It may be hard to stomach, but we Brits are obsessed with digestion. Dr Richard Newland explains... The English are famed for their fascination with the bowels and the importance of 'regularity of motion'. While this fixation on optimum digestion and elimination has always been an endless source of humour, it is also a wise preoccupation to have, because any disruption in the workings of the digestive system can severely affect your lifestyle. Your digestive system is a bit like a factory production line. Food enters in at one end, is turned into fuel to keep your body working and all the waste is discarded at the other end. When things go wrong with this process, the result can be some very uncomfortable symptoms: Heartburn or acid reflux where stomach acid spills out into other parts of the digestive system, is not at the top of the government's health agenda because it is not considered a life-threatening problem. Yet one in three people suffer with this intense burning sensation behind the breastbone on a regular basis and clinical studies reveal that it is a massively troublesome problem and really affects a person's quality of life. Triggers for heartburn are the usual culprits of stress, eating spicy or fatty foods and drinking alcohol and coffee because all these stimulate the stomach to produce more acid than usual. For most people, heartburn is an occupational hazard. In a work or social situation, not being able to eat and drink what you like without It may be hard to stomach, but we Brits are obsessed with digestion. Dr Richard Newland explains... paying for it is certain to affect your confidence. Not to mention worrying about audible gurgling sounds from in the stomach, frequent burping and difficulty in swallowing which can also be a feature of heartburn. A typical over the counter treatment for the condition is an antacid (either chalky or chewy!) but although quite a handy fast acting solution to neutralise stomach acid, it does not really have any lasting effect beyond the waking hours spent in an upright position. It's often when a sufferer has to prepare for bedtime after the stomach has returned to its acid state, that heartburn really starts to interfere with a person's wellbeing. Lying down often makes the problem worse purely because it makes it easier for the excess acid to leak out of the stomach. To counteract this, it is best to avoid eating late or at least delaying bed until the food well and truly has gone down. In extreme cases it might be necessary to elevate the top end of the bed off the floor so that the body isn't entirely flat during sleep. For long term sufferers, there is good news now that some very effective prescription medicines known as a proton pump inhibitors are more widely available. These essentially prevent the stomach from over producing acid and have very few side effects. They were originally developed for treatment of gastric ulcers but are now recognised as equally valid in the management of recurrent heartburn. Constipation is at the other end of the spectrum, so to speak and is an ever present problem which can't just be blamed on modern life because it blighted the lives of ancient civilisations and gave rise to all manner of natural remedies from figs to fasting, enemas of soapy water and even leeches on the bottom. However, the reason why we have constipation these days is a modern problem. Our foods tend to be more refined and lack fibre and instead of maintaining a healthy fluid balance, we drink too much tea, coffee and alcohol which ultimately dehydrates the system. It is important to deal with constipation because it can make you feel very 'under the weather' and some of the symptoms such as bad breath can reduce your popularity! Trapped wind, cramping and bloating might also plague you and mean you can't wear close fitting clothes, but all in all having a regular bowel movement is essential to good health. Normal UK bowel habit varies from daily motions to every other day. In some non-Western societies, four times a day is the norm and this is an indication how far from our natural rhythm we have strayed and may account for the rise in bowel cancer. Laxatives offer a short term solution to constipation but if you become over reliant on them it could lead to a lazy bowel. The main thing is to re-educate the digestive system by keeping it by keeping fed with plenty of fruit, veg and wholegrain cereals and drinking plenty of water. As with all health matters, if symptoms of digestive discomfort persist or if a change in bowel habit arises past a certain age (40+), always consult your GP to rule out anything more serious. Good medical advice is not to be sneezed at, so for a traditional GP service, Dr Richard Newland can be consulted at the Newhall Medical Practice, the private GP surgery which serves Birmingham city centre. It offers same day appointments, unhurried consultations and no need to register. For an appointment, contact the Practice Manager on 0121 236 6633. | 
